Touch-sensing display panel and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A touch-sensing display panel including a front substrate, scan lines, data lines, pixel structures, photo-sensors, readout devices, a rear substrate and a display medium is provided. The front substrate has an inner surface. The scan lines and the data lines are on the inner surface of the front substrate and intersected to each other. The pixel structures are disposed on the inner surface of the front substrate, and each pixel structure is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines correspondingly. The photo-sensors are disposed on the inner surface of the front substrate. Each readout device is electrically connected to one of the photo-sensor correspondingly. The rear substrate is disposed opposite to the front substrate. The display medium is sealed between the front substrate and the rear substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of and claims thepriority benefit of a prior application Ser. No. 12/781,805, filed onMay 17, 2010, now pending. The prior application Ser. No. 12/781,805claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 99106297,filed on Mar. 4, 2010. The entirety of the above-mentioned patentapplications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a partof specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a display panel and a manufacturing methodthereof, and particularly to a reflective type touch-sensing displaypanel and a manufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

Along with the development of flat panel displays (FPD), thecharacteristics of being light, thin and flexible are the foremost goalof display apparatuses in the future. The display technologies appliedto the flexible display, the electronic paper, and the electronic bookinclude the liquid crystal display technology, the electrophoreticdisplay technology, the electrochromic display technology, and the like.The electrophoretic display includes an active device array substrateand an electrophoretic display film adhered on the active device arraysubstrate. The electrophoretic display film has a display medium and aplurality of display particles distributed in the display medium. Thedisplay medium is, for example, a display solution, and the displayparticles are particles with positive polarity or negative polarity. Theactive device array substrate includes a plurality of pixel structures,each of which is constituted with an active device and a pixelelectrode.

Generally, in order for the electrophoretic display to have a touchfunction, a capacitive or resistive touch panel can be adhered on thesurface of the electrophoretic display. However, the additional adhesionof the touch panel onto the electrophoretic display not only leads tohigher costs, but the adhering process also increases the complexity ofthe manufacturing process. Thus, the integration of photo-sensors to theactive device array substrate of the electrophoretic display has beenproposed. However, since conventional electronic paper display devicesrequire environmental light, environmental light usually needs to passthrough the electrophoretic display film to reach the photo-sensors onthe active device array substrate. Consequently, the conventional methodof integrating the photo-sensors to the active device array substrate ofthe electrophoretic display has low sensitivity in touch sensing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a touch-sensing display panel and amanufacturing method thereof for enhancing the sensitivity of touchsensing function of conventional electronic paper display devices.

The invention provides a touch-sensing display panel including a frontsubstrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, aplurality of pixel structures, a plurality of photo-sensors, a pluralityof readout devices, a rear substrate, and a reflective display medium.The front substrate has an inner surface and an outer surface oppositeto the inner surface. The scan lines and the data lines are disposed onthe inner surface of the front substrate and intersected with oneanother. The pixel structures are disposed on the inner surface of thefront substrate. Each of the pixel structures is electrically connectedto one of the scan lines and one of the data lines correspondingly. Eachof the pixel structures comprises a switch device, a pixel electrode,and a transparent storage capacitance electrode layer. The switch deviceis electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the datalines correspondingly. The pixel electrode is electrically connected tothe switch device. The transparent storage capacitance electrode layeris disposed on the inner surface of the front substrate and sandwichedbetween the pixel electrode and the front substrate. The photo-sensorsare disposed on the inner surface of the front substrate. Each of thephoto-sensors comprises a transparent lower electrode disposed on theinner surface of the front substrate, a photo-sensitive silicon-richdielectric layer disposed on the transparent lower electrode, and anupper electrode disposed on the photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectriclayer. Each of the readout devices is electrically connected to one ofthe photo-sensors correspondingly. The rear substrate is disposedopposite to the front substrate. The reflective display medium is sealedbetween the front substrate and the rear substrate. The photo-sensorsare disposed between the front substrate and the display medium.Additionally, the transparent storage capacitance electrode layer of thepixel structure and the transparent lower electrode of the photo-sensorare made of a same layer.

The invention further provides a touch-sensing display panel including afront substrate, a scan line, a data line, a switch device, a pixelelectrode, a transparent storage capacitance electrode layer, aphoto-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer, an upper electrode, areadout device, a rear substrate and a display medium. The frontsubstrate has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite to theinner surface. The scan line is disposed on the inner surface of thefront substrate. The data line is disposed on the inner surface of thefront substrate and is intersected with the scan line. The switch deviceis electrically connected to the scan line and the data linecorrespondingly. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to theswitch device. The transparent storage capacitance electrode layer isdisposed on the inner surface of the front substrate and is sandwichedbetween the pixel electrode and the front substrate. The transparentlower electrode is disposed on the inner surface of the front substrate.The photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer is disposed on thetransparent lower electrode. The upper electrode is disposed on thephoto-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer. The readout device iselectrically connected to one of the transparent lower electrode and theupper electrode. The rear substrate is disposed opposite to the frontsubstrate. The display medium is sealed between the front substrate andthe rear substrate. Additionally, the transparent storage capacitanceelectrode layer and the transparent lower electrode are made of a samelayer.

In light of the foregoing, since the photo-sensors are disposed on theinner surface of the front substrate in the invention, external lightfirst passes through the photo-sensors on the front substrate and thenenters the reflective display medium. Accordingly, the sensitivity ofthe photo-sensors can be enhanced. Moreover, the photo-sensors of theinvention adopt the photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer as thephoto conductive material thereof. Thus, the photo-sensors areconductive when illuminated and disconnected when not illuminated.Comparing to the conventional photo-sensors using sensing thin filmtransistors as photo-sensors, the photo-sensors of the invention havebetter photo-sensitivity.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages ofthe invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures aredescribed in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a reflective typetouch-sensing display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic top view of a pixel unit having a photo-sensorregion and a pixel region on a front substrate of the reflective typetouch-sensing display panel in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along line A-A′ andline B-B′ in FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3A through 3G are flowcharts schematically depicting themanufacture of devices on the front substrate of the reflective displaypanel according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A is a schematic top view of a pixel unit having a photo-sensorregion and a pixel region on a front substrate of a reflective typetouch-sensing display panel according to another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along line A-A′ andline B-B′ in FIG. 4A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a reflective typetouch-sensing display panel according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG. 2A is a schematic top view of a pixel unit having a photo-sensorregion and a pixel region on a front substrate of the reflective typetouch-sensing display panel in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectionalschematic view taken along line A-A′ and line B-B′ in FIG. 2A. Referringto FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, a reflective type touch-sensing display panel ofthe present embodiment includes a front substrate 100, a plurality ofscan lines SL1, SL2, a plurality of data lines DL, a plurality of pixelstructures P, a plurality of photo-sensors PS, a plurality of readoutdevices T2, a rear substrate 200, and a reflective display medium 300.

The front substrate 100 has an inner surface 101 a and an outer surface101 b. The front substrate 100 can be a transparent substrate. In orderfor an environmental light L to pass through the front substrate 100,the front substrate 100 adopts a transparent or light-transmissivematerial such as a transparent glass substrate or a transparent flexiblesubstrate, for example. The front surface 101 a of the front substrate100 is mainly adopted for carrying devices. The outer surface 101 b ofthe front substrate 100 is a passivation layer, an anti-mirrorreflection layer, or a touch layer of other types, in which the effectsaforementioned can also be attained by additionally adhering a filmthereto. The front substrate 100 faces a user and the environmentallight L, since the environmental light L enters the reflective typetouch-sensing display panel from the outer surface 101 b of the frontsubstrate 100, the front substrate 100 can also be referred as anilluminated surface.

In the present embodiment, the inner surface 101 a of the frontsubstrate 100 has a plurality of pixel units U arranged in an array.Only one pixel unit U is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, so thatpersons skilled in the art can understand the invention clearly. Itshould be noted that the pixel unit U illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2Bincludes a pixel region U1 and a photo-sensor region U2. However, theinvention does not limit each pixel unit U to include the pixel regionU1 and the photo-sensor region U2. According to one embodiment, onephoto-sensor region U2 is disposed every N pixel units U, and the otherpixel units U are merely disposed with the pixel regions U1.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the scan lines SL1, SL2 and the data lineDL are disposed on the inner surface 101 a of the front substrate 100.The scan lines SL1, SL2, and the data line DL intersected with the scanlines SL1 and SL2. In other words, an extending direction of the dataline DL is not parallel to extending directions of the scan lines SL1,SL2. Moreover, it is favorable for the extending direction of the dataline DL to be perpendicular to the extending directions of the scanlines SL1, SL2. In addition, the scan lines SL1, SL2 and the data lineDL are in different layers. The scan lines SL1, SL2, and the data lineDL are usually fabricated using metal material for conductivity.However, the invention is not limited thereto. According to otherembodiments, the scan lines SL1, SL2, and the data line DL can alsoadopt other conductive materials.

The pixel structures P are disposed on the inner surface 101 a of thefront substrate 100. Each pixel structure P is electrically connected tothe scan line SL1 and the data line DL correspondingly. In details, thepixel structure P is disposed in the pixel region U1 of every pixel unitU on the inner surface 101 a of the front substrate 100. According tothe present embodiment, the pixel structure P includes a switch deviceT1 and a pixel electrode PE. The switch device T1 is electricallyconnected to the scan line SL1 and the data line DL. On the other hand,the pixel electrode PE is electrically connected to the switch deviceT1. Specifically, the switch device T1 includes a gate electrode G1, achannel CH1, a source electrode S1, and a drain electrode D1. The gateelectrode G1 is electrically connected to the scan line SL1. The channelCH1 is disposed above the gate electrode G1. The source electrode S1 andthe drain electrode D1 are disposed above the channel CH1, and thesource electrode S1 is electrically connected to the data line DL. Thepixel electrode PE is electrically connected to the drain electrode D1of the switch device T1 through a contact hole C1. A bottom gateelectrode thin-film transistor (TFT) is used as the switch device T1 forillustration; however, the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingto other embodiments, the switch device T1 can also be a top gateelectrode TFT.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pixel region U1 furtherincludes a transparent storage capacitance electrode layer 102 adisposed therein. The transparent storage capacitance electrode layer102 a is disposed on the inner surface 101 a of the front substrate 100and sandwiched between the pixel electrode PE and the inner surface 101a of the front substrate 100. The transparent storage capacitanceelectrode layer 102 nearly occupies the entire area of the pixel regionU1. The transparent storage capacitance electrode layer 102 a, the pixelelectrode PE and an insulation layer disposed between the transparentstorage capacitance electrode layer 102 a and the pixel electrode PEconstitute a storage capacitor (i.e. the insulation layers 104, 106illustrated in FIG. 2B). Additionally, according to the presentembodiment, a storage capacitance electrode line CS is further disposedon a surface of the transparent storage capacitance electrode layer 102a. The storage capacitance electrode line CS electrically contacts thetransparent storage capacitance electrode layer 102 a directly. Anextending direction of the storage capacitance electrode line CS isparallel to the extending directions of the scan lines SL1, SL2.Moreover, the storage capacitance electrode line CS and the scan linesSL1, SL2 are in the same layer. Since the storage capacitance electrodeline CS is electrically connected to a common voltage Vcom, thetransparent storage capacitance electrode layer 102 a in each pixelregion U1 on the front substrate 100 obtains the common voltage Vcomthrough the storage capacitance electrode line CS.

In addition, the photo-sensor PS is disposed in the photo-sensor regionU2 of the front substrate 100. Particularly, each photo-sensor PSincludes a transparent lower electrode 102 b disposed on the innersurface 101 a of the front substrate 100, a photo-sensitive silicon-richdielectric layer 110 disposed on the transparent lower electrode 102 b,and an upper electrode 112 disposed on the photo-sensitive silicon-richdielectric layer 110. According to an embodiment of the invention, thetransparent storage capacitance electrode layer 102 a and thetransparent lower electrode 102 b of the photo-sensor PS are in the samelayer (as shown in FIG. 2B). Therefore, the transparent storagecapacitance electrode layer 102 a and the transparent lower electrode102 b of the photo-sensor PS can be manufactured using the samematerial. Furthermore, the photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer110 of the photo-sensor PS includes a silicon-rich silicon oxide layer(SiOx), a silicon-rich silicon nitride layer (SiNy), a silicon-richsilicon oxynitride layer (SiOxNy), a silicon-rich silicon carbide layer(SiCz), a silicon-rich oxycarbide layer (SiOxCz), a hydrogenizedsilicon-rich silicon oxide layer (SiHwOx), a hydrogenized silicon-richsilicon nitride layer (SiHwNy), a hydrogenized silicon-rich siliconcarbide layer (SiHwCz), or a combination thereof. Herein, 0<w<4, 0<x<2,0<y<1.34, and 0<z<1. Moreover, the upper electrode 112 of thephoto-sensor PS is a transparent electrode, and the upper electrode 112and the pixel electrode PE are in the same layer (as depicted in FIG.2B). Therefore, the upper electrode 112 of the photo-sensor PS and thepixel electrode PE are manufactured using the same material.

In addition, the readout device T2 is further disposed in thephoto-sensor region U2 of the front substrate 100. This readout deviceT2 is electrically connected to the photo-sensor PS. According to thepresent embodiment, the readout device T2 includes a gate electrode G2,a channel CH2, a source electrode S2, and a drain electrode D2. The gateelectrode G2 is electrically connected to the scan line SL2. The channelCH2 is disposed above the gate electrode G2. The source electrode S2 andthe drain electrode D2 are disposed above the channel CH2. The sourceelectrode S2 is connected to an extending portion 116. Thus, the sourceelectrode S2 of the readout device T2 is electrically connected to acontact hole C2 and, therefore, to the upper electrode 112 of thephoto-sensor PS through the extending portion 116. A bottom gateelectrode TFT is used as the readout device T2 for illustration;however, the invention is not limited thereto. According to otherembodiments, the readout device T2 can also be a top gate electrode TFT.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of sensing signalreadout lines RL is further disposed on the inner surface 101 a of thefront substrate 100. Each sensing signal readout line RL is electricallyconnected the corresponding readout device T2. In details, the sensingsignal readout line RL is electrically connected to the drain electrodeD2 of the readout device T2. Further, a plurality of sensingsignal-input lines IL is further disposed on the inner surface 101 a ofthe front substrate 100. Each sensing signal-input line IL iselectrically connected the transparent lower electrode 102 b of thecorresponding photo-sensor PS. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2B,the sensing signal-input line IL is disposed on a surface of thetransparent lower electrode 102 b of the photo-sensor PS directly, suchthat the two can electrically contact directly.

Referring to FIG. 1, the rear substrate 200 is disposed opposite to thefront substrate 100. According to an embodiment of the invention, anelectrode layer 202 is further disposed on a surface of the rearsubstrate 200. Since the touch display panel of the invention is areflective touch display panel, the rear substrate 200 is anon-transparent substrate or a transparent substrate. For example, therear substrate 200 is a metal substrate, glass substrate, or flexiblesubstrate. A reflective layer not shown may be disposed on the rearsubstrate 200.

The reflective display medium 300 is sealed between the front substrate100 and the rear substrate 200. The reflective display medium 300 meansthat when the environmental light L enters from the front substrate 100and reaches the reflective display medium 300, the reflective displaymedium 300 reflects the environmental light L, so that the environmentallight L leaves again from the front substrate 100. The reflectivedisplay medium 300 is, for instance, a capsule electrophoretic displaymedium (as shown in FIG. 1), a microcell electrophoretic display medium,a cholesterol liquid crystal electrophoretic display medium, or othertypes of reflective electrophoretic display medium. The front substrate100, the display medium 300, and the rear substrate 200 can be adheredthrough an adhesive layer 302. In addition, a passivation layer materialcan be filled between the front substrate 100, the display medium 300,and the rear substrate 200 for protecting devices or layers on the frontsubstrate 100 and the rear substrate 300.

In the foregoing reflective display panel, the photo-sensor PS adoptsthe photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer 110 as thephoto-conductive material thereof. The photo-sensor PS is conductiveunder illumination. When a touch operation device, for example, a user'sfinger F performs a touch operation and blocks the environmental light Lfrom entering the photo-sensor PS (without illumination), thephoto-sensor PS is disconnected. The touched position can be sensed bydetecting the sensing signal changes using this method.

Accordingly, since the photo-sensor PS is disposed on the inner surface101 a of the front substrate 100 in the foregoing embodiment, theenvironmental light L first passes through the photo-sensor PS on thefront substrate 100 and then enters the reflective display medium 300.The sensitivity of the photo-sensor PS can be enhanced as a consequence.

FIGS. 3A through 3G are flowcharts schematically depicting themanufacture of devices on the front substrate of the reflective displaypanel according to an embodiment of the invention. Here, the flowchartsshow the manufacture of the devices on the front substrate asillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3A, theinner surface 101 a of the front substrate 100 has a plurality of pixelunits U and each pixel unit U includes the pixel region U1 and thephoto-sensor region U2 (as shown in FIG. 2A). Here, FIG. 3A merelyillustrates a cross-section of the pixel region U1 corresponding to lineA-A′ and a cross-section of the photo-sensing region U2 corresponding toline B-B′. Similarly, the invention does not limit each pixel unit U toinclude the pixel region U1 and the photo-sensor region U2. According toone embodiment, one photo-sensor region U2 is disposed every N pixelunits U, and the other pixel units U are merely disposed with the pixelregions U1. The transparent lower electrode 102 b is formed on the frontsubstrate 100. According to the present embodiment, the transparentstorage capacitance electrode layer 102 a is formed in every pixelregion U1 when forming the transparent lower electrode 102 b.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3B, the scan lines SL1, SL2 are formed onthe inner surface 101 a of the front substrate 100. At this time, thegate electrode G1 which is electrically connected to the scan line SL1is formed in the pixel region U1 and the gate electrode G2 which iselectrically connected to the scan line SL2 is formed in thephoto-sensor region U2. According to the present embodiment, a storagecapacitance electrode line CS is further formed on the transparentstorage capacitance electrode layer 102 a when forming the scan linesSL1, SL2 and the gate electrodes G1, G2. The storage capacitanceelectrode line CS electrically contacts the transparent storagecapacitance electrode layer 102 a. In addition, a sensing signal-inputline IL is further formed when forming the scan lines SL1, SL2 and thegate electrodes G1, G2. The sensing signal-input line IL is directlyformed on the surface of the transparent lower electrode 102 b.

Referring to FIG. 3C, a first insulation layer 104 is formed on thefront substrate 100. The first insulation layer 104 covers thestructures aforementioned (including the scan lines SL1, SL2, the gateelectrodes G1, G2, the sensing signal-input line IL, the transparentstorage capacitance electrode layer 102 a, and the transparent lowerelectrode 102 b). Next, the channel CH1 is formed on the firstinsulation layer 104 above the gate electrode G1 and the channel CH2 isformed on the first insulation layer 104 above the gate electrode G2.The channels CH1, CH2 are manufactured using doped amorphous silicon,and surfaces of the channel CH1, CH2 favorably include ohmic contactlayers.

Referring to FIG. 3D, the data line DL is formed on the inner surface101 a of the front substrate 100. At this time, the source electrode S1and the drain electrode D1 are formed on the channel CH1 in the pixelregion U1. The source electrode S1 is electrically connected to the dataline DL. Moreover, the source electrode S2 and the drain electrode D2are formed on the channel CH2. Here, the gate electrode G1, the channelCH1, the source electrode S1, and the drain electrode D1 constitute theswitch device T1. Also, the gate electrode G2, the channel CH2, thesource electrode S2, and the drain electrode D2 constitute the readoutdevice T2. According to the present embodiment, the extending portion116 and the sensing signal readout line RL are formed, the extendingportion 116 is electrically connected to the source electrode S2, andthe sensing signal read line RL is electrically connected to the drainelectrode D2 when forming the source electrode S1, the drain electrodeD1, the source electrode S2, and the drain electrode D2.

Referring to FIG. 3E, the second insulation layer 106 is formed andcovers the structures aforementioned (including the data line DL, theswitch device T1, the read device T2, the extending portion 116, and thesensing signal read line RL). Next, the contact hole C1 is formed in thesecond insulation layer 106 to expose the drain electrode D1 of theswitch device T1, and a device opening O is formed in the secondinsulation layer 106 and the first insulation layer 104 of thephoto-sensor region U2 to expose the transparent lower electrode 102 b.The second insulation layer 106 further includes the contact hole C2which exposes the extending portion 116.

Referring to FIG. 3F, the photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer110 is formed in the photo-sensor region U2 and filled into the deviceopening O in the second insulation layer 106 and the first insulationlayer 104. The photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer 110 adoptsa silicon-rich silicon oxide layer as an example, utilizes a chemicalvapor deposition process to flow silicon-containing gas andoxygen-containing gas into a reaction chamber, and adjust the gas ratiosuitably, so that the silicon content is higher than the oxide contentin the silicon-rich silicon oxide layer formed. Since this is well-knowto persons skilled in the art, further descriptions are not repeatedhereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 3G, the pixel electrode PE is formed in the pixelregion U1. Here, the pixel electrode PE is further filled into thecontact hole C1 so as to be electrically connected to the drainelectrode D1 of the switch device T1. The upper electrode 112 is formedon the photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer 110 in thephoto-sensor region U2 at the same time. The upper electrode 112 isfurther filled into the contact hole C2 so as to be electricallyconnected to the extending portion 116. Since the extending portion 116is electrically connected to the source electrode S2 of the readoutdevice T2, the upper electrode 112 can electrically connect with thesource electrode S2 of the readout device T2 through the extendingportion 116 and the contact hole C2.

The manufacture of the devices on the front substrate 100 is finishedafter the step shown in FIG. 3G. Thereafter, the front substrate 100 isassembled with the rear substrate 200 and the reflective display medium300 is sealed therebetween to form a reflective type touch-sensingdisplay panel.

FIG. 4A is a schematic top view of a pixel unit having a photo-sensorregion and a pixel region on a front substrate of a reflective typetouch-sensing display panel according to another embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along lineA-A′ and line B-B′ in FIG. 4A. The pixel units shown in FIG. 4A and FIG.4B are similar to those shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B so that componentsidentical to those of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are denoted with the samenumerals in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B and not repeated herein.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pixels units in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4Bare different from those in FIGS. 2A and 2B in that the photo-sensor PSincludes the transparent lower electrode 102 b, the photo-sensitivesilicon-rich dielectric layer 110, and the upper electrode 112. Here,the upper electrode 112 is a metal electrode. According to the presentembodiment, the upper electrode 112 of the photo-sensor PS iselectrically connected to the extending portion 116 directly. Theextending portion 116 is electrically connected to the source electrodeS2 of the readout device T2.

The manufacturing flowcharts of the pixel units in FIGS. 4A and 4B andthe manufacturing flowcharts of the pixel units in FIGS. 2A and 2B aresimilar to those illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3G. However, the pixelunits are different in that in the step shown in FIG. 3D, the upperelectrode 112 is formed simultaneously when forming the source electrodeS1, the drain electrode D1, the source electrode S2, the drain electrodeD2 and the extending portion 116, and the extending portion is connectedto the upper electrode 112 directly. In the present embodiment, sincethe upper electrode 112 is formed simultaneously when forming theextending portion 116, the upper electrode 112 of the photo-sensor PSdoes not need to be formed in the subsequent formation of the pixelelectrode PE.

In summary, since the photo-sensors are disposed on the inner surface ofthe front substrate in the invention, the environmental light firstpasses through the photo-sensors on the front substrate and then entersthe reflective display medium. Accordingly, the sensitivity of thephoto-sensors can be enhanced.

Furthermore, the photo-sensors of the invention adopt thephoto-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer as the photo conductivematerial thereof. Thus, the photo-sensors are conductive whenilluminated and disconnected when not illuminated. The invention appliesthe photo-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer as the photo-sensors.Comparing to the conventional photo-sensors using sensing TFTs asphoto-sensors, the photo-sensors of the invention have betterphoto-sensitivity.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the aboveembodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the artthat modifications to the described embodiment may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the abovedetailed descriptions.

1. A touch-sensing display panel, comprising: a front substrate havingan inner surface and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface; aplurality of scan lines disposed on the inner surface of the frontsubstrate; a plurality of data lines disposed on the inner surface ofthe front substrate and intersected with the scan lines; a plurality ofpixel structures, disposed on the inner surface of the front substrate,each of the pixel structures being electrically connected to one of thescan lines and one of the data lines correspondingly, and each of thepixel structures comprising: a switch device electrically connected toone of the scan lines and one of the data lines correspondingly; a pixelelectrode electrically connected to the switch device; and a transparentstorage capacitance electrode layer disposed on the inner surface of thefront substrate and sandwiched between the pixel electrode and the frontsubstrate; a plurality of photo-sensors disposed on the inner surface ofthe front substrate, each of the photo-sensors comprising: a transparentlower electrode disposed on the inner surface of the front substrate; aphoto-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer disposed on thetransparent lower electrode; and an upper electrode disposed on thephoto-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer; a plurality of readoutdevices, each of the readout devices being electrically connected to oneof the photo-sensors correspondingly; a rear substrate disposed oppositeto the front substrate; and a display medium sealed between the frontsubstrate and the rear substrate, wherein the photo-sensors are disposedbetween the front substrate and the display medium, and wherein thetransparent storage capacitance electrode layer of the pixel structureand the transparent lower electrode of the photo-sensor are made of asame layer.
 2. The touch-sensing display panel as claimed in claim 1,wherein the upper electrode of the photo-sensor is a metal electrode. 3.The touch-sensing display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upperelectrode of the photo-sensor is electrically connected to the readoutdevice directly.
 4. The touch-sensing display panel as claimed in claim1, wherein the upper electrode of the photo-sensor is a transparentelectrode.
 5. The touch-sensing display panel as claimed in claim 1,wherein the upper electrode of the photo-sensor is electricallyconnected to the readout device through a contact hole.
 6. Thetouch-sensing display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein thephoto-sensitive silicon-rich dielectric layer of the photo-sensorcomprises a silicon-rich silicon oxide layer, a silicon-rich siliconnitride layer, a silicon-rich silicon oxynitride layer, a silicon-richsilicon carbide layer, a silicon-rich oxycarbide layer, a hydrogenizedsilicon-rich silicon oxide layer, a hydrogenized silicon-rich siliconnitride layer, a hydrogenized silicon-rich silicon carbide layer, or acombination thereof.
 7. The touch-sensing display panel as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensing signal readout lines,each of the sensing signal readout lines being electrically connected toone of the readout devices correspondingly.
 8. The touch-sensing displaypanel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensingsignal-input lines, each of the sensing signal-input lines beingelectrically connected to the transparent lower electrode of one of thephoto-sensors correspondingly.
 9. A touch-sensing display panel,comprising: a front substrate having an inner surface and an outersurface opposite to the inner surface; a scan line disposed on the innersurface of the front substrate; a data line disposed on the innersurface of the front substrate and intersected with the scan line; aswitch device electrically connected to the scan line and the data linecorrespondingly; a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switchdevice; a transparent storage capacitance electrode layer disposed onthe inner surface of the front substrate and sandwiched between thepixel electrode and the front substrate; a transparent lower electrodedisposed on the inner surface of the front substrate; a photo-sensitivesilicon-rich dielectric layer disposed on the transparent lowerelectrode; an upper electrode disposed on the photo-sensitivesilicon-rich dielectric layer; a readout device electrically connectedto one of the transparent lower electrode and the upper electrode; arear substrate disposed opposite to the front substrate; and a displaymedium sealed between the front substrate and the rear substrate, andwherein the transparent storage capacitance electrode layer and thetransparent lower electrode are made of a same layer.
 10. Thetouch-sensing display panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the upperelectrode is a metal electrode.
 11. The touch-sensing display panel asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the upper electrode is electricallyconnected to the readout device directly.
 12. The touch-sensing displaypanel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the upper electrode is atransparent electrode.
 13. The touch-sensing display panel as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the upper electrode is electrically connected to thereadout device through a contact hole.
 14. The touch-sensing displaypanel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the photo-sensitive silicon-richdielectric layer comprises a silicon-rich silicon oxide layer, asilicon-rich silicon nitride layer, a silicon-rich silicon oxynitridelayer, a silicon-rich silicon carbide layer, a silicon-rich oxycarbidelayer, a hydrogenized silicon-rich silicon oxide layer, a hydrogenizedsilicon-rich silicon nitride layer, a hydrogenized silicon-rich siliconcarbide layer, or a combination thereof.
 15. The touch-sensing displaypanel as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a sensing signal readoutline being electrically connected to the readout device.
 16. Thetouch-sensing display panel as claimed in claim 9, further comprising asensing signal-input line being electrically connected to thetransparent lower electrode.